The Los Angeles Times reports growing concerns within immigrant communities regarding the potential exposure of parents' immigration status when submitting the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The newspaper highlighted fears that students with undocumented parents could face status exposure when submitting FAFSA, especially as the Trump administration enters its second term. An LA-based high school counselor noted that some college-bound students are reconsidering FAFSA submission due to this concern.

FAFSA is a mandatory form for college and graduate students seeking federal financial aid. It requires applicants to provide their parents' Social Security Numbers (SSNs). If parents lack SSNs, applicants must enter "0" instead. This process raises concerns that the information provided may inadvertently disclose immigration status.

The Department of Education does not share FAFSA data with federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, fears are mounting that the Trump administration, with its promise of mass deportations, could repurpose FAFSA information for other uses.

The nonprofit National College Attainment Network (NCAN) emphasized that the Higher Education Act prohibits using FAFSA data for purposes other than determining federal financial aid eligibility. Yet, NCAN expressed uncertainty about whether such protections would remain intact.

Similarly, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) acknowledged that concerns over immigration status exposure tied to FAFSA submissions are not new. However, it noted heightened anxiety that the incoming administration might exploit FAFSA information for alternative purposes. NACAC clarified, though, that there is currently no evidence suggesting FAFSA data has been or will be used for anything beyond financial aid determinations.